For whom should psychotherapy focus on problem coping? A machine learning algorithm for treatment personalization.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to develop and test an algorithm for individual patient predictions of problem coping experiences (PCE) (i.e., patients' understanding and ability to deal with their problems) effects in cognitive-behavioral therapy. Method: In an outpatient sample with a variety of diagnoses (n=1010), we conducted Dynamic Structural Equation Modelling to estimate within-patient cross-lagged PCE effects on outcome during the first ten sessions. In a randomly selected training sample (2/3 of the cases), we tried different machine learning algorithms (i.e., ridge regression, LASSO, elastic net, and random forest) to predict PCE effects (i.e., the degree to which PCE was a time-lagged predictor of symptoms), using baseline demographic, diagnostic, and clinically-relevant patient features. Then, we validated the best algorithm on a test sample (1/3 of the cases). RESULTS: The random forest algorithm performed best, explaining 14.7% of PCE effects variance in the training set. The results remained stable in the test set, explaining 15.4% of PCE effects variance. CONCLUSIONS: The results show the suitability to perform individual predictions of process effects, based on patients' initial information. If the results are replicated, the algorithm might have the potential to be implemented in clinical practice by integrating it into monitoring and therapist feedback systems.

Asociaciones entre contratransferencia y características del paciente en psicoterapia psicoanalítica / Associações entre contratransferência e características do paciente na psicoterapia psicanalítica / Associations between countertransference and patient characteristics in psychoanalytic psychotherapy

Resumen Objetivo: explorar las reacciones de contratransferencia de los terapeutas en la fase inicial de la psicoterapia psicoanalítica (entre las sesiones 4 y 5) y verificar las posibles asociaciones entre estas y las características personales del paciente (sociodemográficas, psicológicas y psicopatológicas). Método: estudio naturalista, transversal, correlacional y observacional con enfoque descriptivo-analítico. La muestra consta de 180 pares de pacientes y terapeutas, de los cuales 180 eran pacientes adultos (32.82 ± 12.66 años) y 48 terapeutas (32.69 ± 10.01 años). Resultados: la contratransferencia se ve afectada por la edad del paciente, los aspectos psicológicos de su vida anterior (traumas y apego parental) y elementos de su personalidad (habilidades de empatía y mecanismos defensivos), pero no por los síntomas que presenta. Conclusiones: los hallazgos respaldan la literatura científica, que señala la relevancia de las experiencias infantiles y las características de personalidad del paciente para evocar patrones específicos de contratransferencia en el terapeuta. Conocer tales relaciones puede ayudar a los clínicos a identificar sus propias reacciones y usarlas terapéuticamente, según corresponda.

Resumo Objetivo: explorar as reações contratransferenciais de terapeutas na fase inicial de psicoterapia psicanalítica (entre a 4a e a 5a sessão) e verificar possíveis associações destas com as características pessoais do paciente (sociodemográficas, psicológicas e psicopatológicas). Método: estudo naturalístico, transversal, correlacional e observacional de abordagem descritivo-analítica. A amostra é composta por 180 duplas paciente-terapeuta, dos quais 180 eram pacientes adultos (32,82 ± 12,66 anos de idade) e 48 terapeutas (32,69 ± 10,01 anos de idade). Resultados: a contratransferência é afetada pela idade do paciente, aspectos psicológicos da sua vida pregressa (traumas e vinculação parental) e elementos de sua personalidade (habilidades empáticas e mecanismos defensivos), mas não pelos sintomas. Conclusões: os achados apoiam a literatura científica, a qual sinaliza a relevância das experiências infantis e de características da personalidade do paciente na evocação de padrões contratransferenciais específicos no terapeuta. Conhecer tais relações pode ajudar os clínicos a identificar suas próprias reações emocionais e utilizá-las terapeuticamente, quando for o caso.

Abstract Objective: to explore therapists' countertransference reactions in the initial phase of psychoanalytic psychotherapy (between sessions 4 and 5) and to verify possible associations between these and the patient's personal characteristics (sociodemographic, psychological, and psychopathological). Method: naturalistic, cross-sectional, correlational, and observational study with a descriptive-analytical approach. The sample consists of 180 patient-therapist dyads, of which 180 were adult patients (32.82 ± 12.66 years old) and 48 therapists (32.69 ± 10.01 years old). Results: countertransference is affected by the patient's age, psychological aspects of his or her previous life (traumas and parental attachment) and elements of personality (empathetic skills and defensive mechanisms), but not by the showed symptoms. Conclusions: the findings support the scientific literature, which points to the relevance of childhood experiences and personality characteristics of the patient to evoke specific countertransference patterns in the therapist. Understanding such relationships can help clinicians identify their own reactions and deliver the therapy, as appropriate.

When Living Donor Liver Allografts Fail: Exploring the Outcomes of Retransplantation Using Deceased Donors.

Outcomes of retransplantation after initial living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) are poorly understood. The aim of this study is to better understand the indications, timing, and outcomes of retransplantation after initial LDLT when compared to after initial deceased donor transplantation (DDLT). From 2002 to 2013, 209 retransplant recipients after initial LDLT and 2893 after initial DDLT were identified in Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network/United Network for Organ Sharing. Multivariable logistic models evaluated the association between initial transplant type and 1-year mortality. The most frequent reason for early graft failure (≤14 days) in LDLT recipients was vascular thrombosis (63.6%) versus primary graft failure in initial DDLT recipients (59.1%). LDLT recipients were more often acutely and/or critically ill with a greater proportion of Status 1 (42.6% vs. 27.3%; p < 0.001) and intensive care unit (52.2% vs. 39.9%; p = 0.001) recipients at the time of retransplantation. There was no difference in adjusted 1-year mortality between retransplant recipients after initial LDLT versus DDLT (odds ratio 0.74; 95% confidence interval 0.51-1.08). The proportion of recipients who ultimately required retransplantation for a third time was not different between the two groups (4.8%). Retransplantation outcomes after LDLT are not different from other retransplant procedures, despite recipients having greater acuity of illness and different indications.

Pattern and Predictors of Hospital Readmission During the First Year After Lung Transplantation.

Hospital readmission after lung transplantation negatively affects quality of life and resource utilization. A secondary analysis of data collected prospectively was conducted to identify the pattern of (incidence, count, cumulative duration), reasons for and predictors of readmission for 201 lung transplant recipients (LTRs) assessed at 2, 6, and 12 mo after discharge. The majority of LTRs (83.6%) were readmitted, and 64.2% had multiple readmissions. The median cumulative readmission duration was 19 days. The main reasons for readmission were other than infection or rejection (55.5%), infection only (25.4%), rejection only (9.9%), and infection and rejection (0.7%). LTRs who required reintubation (odds ratio [OR] 1.92; p = 0.008) or were discharged to care facilities (OR 2.78; p = 0.008) were at higher risk for readmission, with a 95.7% cumulative incidence of readmission at 12 mo. Thirty-day readmission (40.8%) was not significantly predicted by baseline characteristics. Predictors of higher readmission count were lower capacity to engage in self-care (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 0.99; p = 0.03) and discharge to care facilities (IRR 1.45; p = 0.01). Predictors of longer cumulative readmission duration were older age (arithmetic mean ratio [AMR] 1.02; p = 0.009), return to the intensive care unit (AMR 2.00; p = 0.01) and lower capacity to engage in self-care (AMR 0.99; p = 0.03). Identifying LTRs at risk may assist in optimizing predischarge care, discharge planning and long-term follow-up.

Factors associated with therapeutic success in HIV-positive individuals in southern Brazil.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Therapeutic success is characterized by undetectable viral load, immune reconstitution confirmed by CD4+ T-cell count and no clinical manifestations of disease. High treatment adherence is a major determinant of therapeutic success that needs prevention of viral replication, allowing immune reconstitution. Adherence to treatment <95% has been associated with both immune and viral failure. The objective of this study was to evaluate factors associated with therapeutic success in adult patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in a specialized centre for HIV-AIDS in southern Brazil, being defined therapeutic success as achieving and maintaining undetectable viral load, stable immune status (CD4+ T lymphocyte count ≥200 cells/mm(3) ) and adherence to HAART ≥ 95%. METHODS: We conducted a historical cohort study nested in the PC-HIV randomized clinical trial of PC-HIV. We included adults who were on HAART at Pelotas HIV/AIDS Assistance Service between June 2006 and July 2007 and for whom information on treatment adherence, viral load and CD4+ cell count was available. Pregnant women were excluded. We obtained clinical data from medical records and socio-demographic information in an interview. Therapeutic success was defined as achieving and maintaining undetectable viral load, stable immune status (CD4+ T lymphocyte count ≥200 cells/mm(3) ) and adherence to HAART ≥95%. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: We included 136 patients (60% male) in the cohort study. Mean age was 40 ± 10 years, and median treatment duration was 59 months (IQR 25-93). Family income varied from 0 to 8 times the minimum wage (IQR 1·0-2·3). Therapeutic success was achieved by 90% (122 patients), and it was associated with previously undetectable viral load (PR = 1·30; 95% CI = 1·13-1·49) and treatment adherence prior to study entry (PR = 1·34; 95% CI = 1·07-1·69), independently of sex, age and previous immune status. WHAT IS NOW AND CONCLUSION: When undetectable viral load, CD4+ cell count ≥200 cells/mm(3) and treatment adherence above 95% are included in the definition of therapeutic success, the rate was elevated (90%) and the factors associated were previous history of adherence to HAART and previous undetectable viral load.

Taking or not taking medications: psychiatric treatment perceptions in patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Bipolar disorder is a common and disabling condition. Although its negative impact may be limited in some way by the use of different treatment options, lack of adherence to psychiatric treatment is still an obstacle to overcome. Because there are many factors involved in non-adherence to treatment, in this study, we sought to examine the subjective aspect of this phenomenon. We analysed perceptions of both the disease and the treatment in a group of patients with bipolar disorder. METHODS: We incorporated a qualitative design that included 50 outpatients diagnosed with bipolar disorder type 1. Through semi-structured interviews, we explored patients' perceptions of bipolarity and psychiatric medication management. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The participants reported the use of medications as one of the most troubling aspects of having bipolar disorder. The fear of becoming addicted to psychiatric drugs was repeatedly mentioned among the patients as an argument for abandoning treatment. The main expectation of treatment was to achieve stable mood, but the patients considered that drugs were not the only way to be euthymic. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSIONS: The patients expressed ambivalence between the need to take medication to remain stable and the fear of negative consequences of using psychiatric drugs. Personal beliefs and environmental influences seem to determine each individual's final choice of whether to maintain or discontinue treatment; so, in everyday clinical practice, it would be necessary to discuss perceptions of the disease with patients and their families.